Families are queuing up for houses on a revived estate which has won a battle against young thugs and nuisance neighbours.

In just a few months, a crime-fighting partnership in North Tyneside has helped turn around the fortunes of the Martin Road area of Howdon.

From 70 per cent of residents clamouring to be rehoused and move out of the area, there is now a waiting list of people wanting to move back.

Wayne Dack was among a gang of thugs who terrorised the Martin Road neighbourhood and were handed ASBOs (anti-social behaviour orders).

Six youths were identified as being the ringleaders who incited a group of children to become lawless delinquents.

Police were called out to the area night after night, while firefighters were stoned as they arrived to put out fires.

Alan Robson, community safety operations manager for the North Tyneside Partnership, said: "It was clear something had to be done, and fast.

"Residents were starting to talk about feeling under siege from gangs of youths."

Mr Robson said public order has now been restored and there is evidence that community confidence is returning to the area.

"Housing association Enterprise 5 has now gone ahead and built new homes," he said.

"There is a waiting list of people wanting to move into the area and some current tenants are exercising their right to buy their council homes.

"The tide has turned. Together we have fought these youth gangs head-on with every resource available and we have won."

Other community partnerships have also proved successful in evicting troublemakers and providing a safer environment for law-abiding residents.

In Newcastle's East End there are currently eight people on ASBOs and files of being prepared for three other cases.

East End police commander Supt Mick Hassen said: "ASBOs have proved to be a good calming measure for unruly and disruptive people and help give peace of mind to other residents."

News of the successful use of ASBOs and other restrictive measures on troublemakers across the North East comes as demands were made by some groups for the Government to scrap plans to cut housing benefit for troublemakers.

But some 27 organisations, including homeless charity Shelter, the Law Society, tenants' groups and the Local Government Association, have hit out at the proposed cuts.

They say cutting housing benefit from those accused of anti-social behaviour would lead people into further poverty and create more homelessness.

Far from ending anti-social behaviour, they say, it will simply move those involved and their disruptive behaviour on to a new set of neighbours.

Ben Jackson, Shelter's director of external affairs, said: "Increasing poverty and homelessness is not going to end anti-social behaviour.

"This is a gimmick that may sound tough but will not deal with the problem.

"The people involved will continue to be shuffled around and continue to disrupt people's lives."

The proposals are part of a wider Government drive to tackle anti-social behaviour, with a white paper issued earlier this year and a bill currently in the House of Lords.

Local authorities and Northumbria Police say they have worked as partners to reduce crime and give a better quality of life for residents in strife-torn areas.